204; PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



by another may depend upon their numbers, and the 

 fitness of their station to accommodate them. Thorley 

 witnessed a battle of more. than two days continuance, 

 occasioned by a strange swarm forcing their way into a 

 hive a . Two swarms that rise at the same time some- 

 times fight till great numbers have been destroyed, or 

 one of the queens slain, when both sides cease all their 

 enmity and unite under the survivor b . 



These apiarian battles are often fought in defence of 

 the property of the hive. Bees that are ill managed, and 



a 166. 



b Thorley, ibid. Comp. Mills On Bees, 63. The following ac- 

 count of an apiarian battle was copied from the Carlisle Patriot 

 Newspaper: On Saturday last, in the village of Cargo, a combat 

 of a truly novel description was witnessed. A hive of bees belonging 

 to a professional gentleman of this city, swarmed on Thursday last, 

 after which they were hived in the regular way, and appeared to be 

 doing well. On the Saturday after, a swarm of bees, from some 

 neighbouring hive, appeared to be flying over the garden in which 

 the hive above-mentioned was placed, when they instantly darted 

 down upon the hive of the new settlers, and completely covered it : 

 in a little time they began to enter the hive, and poured into it in 

 such numbers that it soon became completely filled. A loud hum- 

 ming noise was heard, and the work of destruction immediately 

 ensued; the winged combatants sallied forth from the hive, until it 

 became entirely empty ; and a furious battle commenced in " upper 

 air," between the besiegers and the besieged. A spectator informs 

 us, that these intrepid little warriors were so numerous, that they 

 literally darkened the sky overhead like a cloud; meanwhile the 

 destructive battle raged with fury on both sides, and the ground 

 beneath was covered with the wounded and the slain, hundreds of 

 them were lying dead, or crawling about, disabled from re-ascend- 

 ing to the scene of action. To one party, however, the palm of vic- 

 tory was at last awarded, and they setled upon the branch of an 

 adjoining apple-tree, from which they were safely placed in the empty 

 hive, which had been the object of their valiant contention, and 

 where they now continue peacefully and industriously employed in 

 adding to the stores of their commonwealth. 



